Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has offered his prediction for the main event clash between Roman Dolidze and Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Vegas 85. “Funk Master” Sterling, known as “Funk Master,” shared his insights in a Twitter clip. Sterling suggested that Dolidze could secure a finish, particularly if he manages to take the fight to the ground.
Aljamain Sterling believes Dolidze has edge over Imavov because of grappling
Aljamain Sterling envisioned a decision or a potential submission victory for Dolidze, speculating it might happen in the second round as he said “If he can get the fight to the floor, the fight’s over. I can either see a decision or a submission, I’m gonna say in round two.”
Sterling, a high-level grappler himself, tends to lean towards grapplers in matchups against strikers. In his prediction, he expressed confidence in Dolidze’s abilities and favored him to win the bout.
Tough main event scrap coming up! I always tend to lean towards the grappler. This feels like a grappler vs striker and I’m taking Roman for the win. How do you guys see this fight playing out?!
•https://t.co/9NrSma8Fte pic.twitter.com/6q3mQsl3Gm— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) February 3, 2024
The UFC Vegas 85 main event holds significance for both fighters, as Dolidze looks to bounce back from a controversial decision loss to Marvin Vettori in his pay-per-view debut at UFC 286. On the other hand, Imavov is coming off a two-fight winless streak, with his recent outing resulting in a no-contest due to an accidental clash of heads that left his opponent, Chris Curtis, unable to continue. Imavov’s second last fight ended in a unanimous decision loss to Sean Strickland.
Aljamain Sterling makes his featherweight debut against eighth-ranked Calvin Kattar at UFC 300. Sterling, feeling depleted at 135 pounds, sees the move to 145 as a game-changer. He aims for a title shot if victorious, particularly if Alexander Volkanovski retains at UFC 298.
Sterling believes he can get a title shot much earlier than anticipated as he stated, “If I beat him the way that I think I’m capable of doing I think I’m right next in line for a title shot. I don’t think that’s too far-fetched of a thing. If you look at the guys at the top, they’ve already fought for the belt. If Volkanovski wins again I think that the door is wide open.” [via The MMA Hour]
With both fighters seeking redemption and a positive outcome, the stakes are high in this middleweight clash. Aljamain Sterling’s prediction adds anticipation to the matchup, emphasizing the potential impact of Dolidze’s grappling skills and hinting at a decisive finish if the fight goes to the ground. Fans and MMA enthusiasts are left to speculate on how the bout will unfold, with the prospect of a grappler versus striker dynamic adding an extra layer of intrigue to the UFC Vegas 85 main event.
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